New York's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's got love for South African music
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani loves Mzansi artists, from Kwesta to Cassper Nyovest.
Image: Timothy A.Clary / AFP
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, this week, is a guest on an extended episode of his What Now? podcast Trevor Noah.
At the end of their lengthy conversation that covered politics and migration, Mamdani brings up his love for South African music.
Mamdani expresses that they didn't get to talk about Mzansi during the podcast and promised to come back so they could.
"I wanted to talk about Cape Town and Casper Nyovest. I wanted to talk about Kwesta, I want to talk about Ricky Rick. Rest in peace, Ricky Rick, man, Boss Zonke, I love that song.
"I want to figure out how we can get major league DJs on Spotify. I have listened to Slyza Tsotsi on YouTube for too long."
Noah and his co-host actor Eugene Khoza agreed that Mamdani should come back to the podcast and talk more about his life and interests.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani's early life included three years in Cape Town starting at age five, where his father, Mahmood Mamdani, held a professorship at the University of Cape Town. At age seven, his family relocated to the United States, making their home in New York City.
Noah, who was born in Johannesburg, pointed out their many connections: "We've got so many things that link us, right? Born in Africa. Then you being born in Uganda."
He then made a joke about his personal link to the country, saying, "I was like, 'Do you know how many Ugandans I have in my life?' In my head, I was thinking, I was like, 'I collect Ugandans.' And I was like, 'But you can’t say that. Don’t say it like that'," before making it clear, "I have a lot of Ugandan friends.”
IOL